Summary

Scenes One – Three

Caius (Kent) roams an open heath frantically searching for Lear during the storm. He runs into one of Lear’s knights and learns that Lear and his fool are somewhere in the field, and that they are traveling alone. Kent tells the knight of the conflict brewing between Cornwall and Albany (even if they are pretending to get along), and that the King of France, Cordelia’s husband, has heard of discord and is preparing to invade. Kent urges the knight to travel to Dover in search of help, telling everyone there of Lear’s present position. He also gives the knight a ring to give to Cordelia should he see her. Meanwhile, Lear rages against the storm, shouting into the wind and cursing his two ungrateful daughters. His fool, recognizing the weather’s danger, begs Lear to apologize to his daughters and return...